Euro area GDP grew 0.4 percent in the second quarter of 2026, the EU 0.5 percent

Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, said in a preliminary flash estimate published on Thursday 30 July 2026 that seasonally adjusted GDP rose 0.4 percent in the euro area and 0.5 percent in the EU in the second quarter of 2026 compared with the previous quarter. In the first quarter of 2026, GDP had remained stable in the euro area and had risen 0.1 percent in the EU.

Compared with the second quarter of 2025, GDP increased 1.0 percent in the euro area and 1.2 percent in the EU, against 0.5 percent and 0.8 percent respectively in the previous quarter. Among member states with available data, Ireland recorded the highest quarterly increase at 3.9 percent, followed by Lithuania at 1.7 percent and Sweden at 1.4 percent. Belgium and Austria posted the lowest growth at 0.0 percent. Germany, France and Italy each grew 0.2 percent, while Spain grew 0.7 percent.

In a separate release the same day, Eurostat said the euro area unemployment rate held at 6.3 percent in June 2026, stable against both May 2026 and June 2025, while the EU rate stood at 6.0 percent. The growth estimate is based on data from 19 member states covering 96 percent of euro area GDP and 94 percent of EU GDP, with the next estimate due on 14 August 2026.